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Let's provide renewable, reliable energy to four hospitals in Gaza today!
Power outages remain a daily reality in the Gaza strip, lasting more than 16 hours a day. Sick patients are especially vulnerable in hospitals, where insufficient power often decides between life or death. Patients in Gaza are needlessly suffering. We believe there has to be a better way.
Along with doctors and policy-makers in the Palestinian territories and internationally, we have taken a hard look at this problem. The problem is complex, but lots of people have been thinking about it for a long time. We know the solution, and now is the time to implement it – modelled after projects in other parts of Gaza and the world.
As featured on:
...and more!
Despite the intense hardships from the ongoing blockade against Gaza, we are inspired by the resilience of Gazans seeking basic health care. The EmpowerGAZA health project will save lives by installing solar panels on four major hospitals in Gaza. This solar energy will provide reliable and green energy 24 hours a day to emergency rooms, intensive care units, and operating theatres.
Solar power will make hospitals self reliant and will empower Gaza hospitals in a sustainable way! Solar power has already had great success in hospitals in Gaza (Shifa, Nasr), Haiti, India, Lebanon and Nepal — now it's time to energize Gaza!
Solar power is a long term solution to:
Expensive and polluting diesel for the current generators used to power hospitals.
Ongoing, regular power outages in the hospitals.
Providing health care services and life saving treatments in the hospital's critical units.
In partnership with:
The Energy Crisis
The current energy supply infrastructure in each hospital provides precarious, unpredictable and unreliable power to the most critically ill and vulnerable members of Palestinian society, particularly during periods of conflict, when there are drastic increases in Emergency Department, Operating Room and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions. Securing a sustainable and reliable energy source to power these critical units is necessary in order to provide safe emergency and intensive medical care.
The Solar Energy Solution
Providing Gaza’s hospitals with a source of sustainable, reliable and renewable energy will decrease risks to the most vulnerable patients. Solar powered energy systems provides an eco-friendly, renewable and sustainable alternative, replacing expensive and unreliable emergency power provided by dirty and expensive diesel generators.
The long-term conversion to solar-powered energy will guarantee a working and self-supporting power supply to the hospital's daily operation.
The Objective: Empower Gaza
Empower Gaza to run the most critical units in hospitals 24 hours a day without the need for expensive diesel.
Empower Gazans to have a renewable, reliable source of energy for intensive care units, operating rooms and emergency departments.
Empowering Gaza: One Major Obstacle is Funding
EmpowerGAZA is a joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Islamic Relief Canada to provide a renewable, reliable source of energy for intensive care units (ICUs), Operating Rooms and Emergency Departments.
We have planned as much as possible for the success of this project. The UNDP will be handling the logistics on the ground and we have all permits and permissions necessary to move forward.
The next important step for the project to succeed is raising the funds to complete the project.
Each hospital will cost USD$200,000 (with the exception of the larger European Hospital which will cost $600 000 USD), with solar panels to go up beginning January 2016.
This Indiegogo campaign aims to fund the first hospital, with stretch goals to fund the other three.
We have broken down the project by hospital, cost and current timeline:
Name of Hospital
Location
Cost (USD$)
Timeline
Al Aqsa Hospital
Deir Al Balah
$200 000
January 2016
Kamal Adwan Hospital
Beit Lahiya
$200 000
June 2016
European Hospital
Khan Younis
$600 000
January 2017
Rantisi Pediatric Hospital
Gaza City
$200 000
June 2017
Total: USD$1.2 million (~CAD$1.55 million)
Help by Donating
Donate whatever amount you can. This is a ground-breaking project that will change the course of current health care in Gaza. Be a part of it!
Donate by Cheque
You may donate by cheque! Please make your cheque out to Islamic Relief Canada, and put 'Empower Gaza' in the memo line.
Send to:
Tarek Loubani
Division of Emergency Medicine
London Health Sciences Centre
800 Commissioners Rd. E
London, Ontario
N6A 5W9
Help by Sharing
Share this campaign with your friends, family and colleagues around the world via email and social media!
Press releases are available in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
Who Can I Contact?
For more information about this project, please get in touch with us:
Can I Receive a Charitable Tax Receipt if I donate?
YES! We can offer Canadians charitable tax receipts, issued via Islamic Relief Canada. All tax receipts will be issued and mailed out in January 2016 after receipt of payment by Islamic Relief Canada, and a follow up email will be sent to ensure reception.
Let's do this together!
A project of this scale and scope relies on the support of hundreds of people from around the world. Thank you for your interest and your support. The time is now. Solar panels for Gaza hospitals today!
EmpowerGAZA in the Media
EmpowerGAZA has generated considerable buzz and interest already!
The EmpowerGAZA team will publicly thank you for your support via Twitter and Facebook. You are playing a vital role in the installation of solar panels for hospitals in Gaza, and your contribution will be recognized!
97 claimed
An original art thank you card
$100 USD
Receive a beautiful thank you card with original artwork drawn and designed by renowned Palestinian artist, Nidal El khairy. In addition, the EmpowerGAZA team will publicly thank you on Facebook and Twitter, as above. Your generosity and contribution is invaluable. Thank you!
104 claimed
A photo of your contribution
$250 USD
Receive a beautiful 4-color, 5"x7" photograph of the completed installation on one of the hospitals in Gaza. In addition, you will receive the perks mentioned above.
26 claimed
Invitation to a group dinner
$1,000 USD
You will be invited to a celebration dinner with the EmpowerGAZA team (location TBD), where you can meet others who have similarly contributed. You can also give your gift in honour of or in memory of a loved one. This special person will be notified of your kindness with a personal thank you note from Palestinian artist Nidal El Khairy along with a beautiful 4-color, 5"x7" photograph of the completed installation on one of the hospitals. All perks from above also apply.
3 claimed
Memorialize your contribution
$10,000 USD
Your name will be included on a beautiful plaque beside the solar installation. You will also be invited to the group dinner and a private dinner to be scheduled when convenient with the EmpowerGAZA team. You will receive all the additional perks mentioned above.
